Gold-washing machine



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1. S. P. BRESSLER.

Gold Washing Machine. No. 238,643. Patented March 8,1881.

N. ETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

s. P. BRESSLER. Gold Washing Machine.

No. 238,643. Patented March 8,1881.

NFETERS, F'Hol'O-LITHQGMPNERv WASHINGTON. a 41V UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrce.

SIMON P. BRESSLEB, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

GOLD-WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,643, dated March 8, 1881.

Application filed November 20, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON P. BanssLEa, of Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented a new and valuable Improvementin Gold-IVashing Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a front elevation of the device, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. is a detail'section longitudinally through the hopper. Fig. 4 is a detail section transversely through the hopper. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the sluice-box. Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the radial arms. Fig. 7 is adetail of the platforms with the knives. Fig. 8 is a detail of the buckets.

This invention relates to devices for separating the gold from the dirt in placer mining.

To this end it consists in the construction hereinafter specified.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A is a hopper, opening by mouth a in a drum, B. This drum B is perforated and preferably tapers from the hopper outward. Atthe hopper end of this drum there is an internally-toothed annulus, b, which engages with a pinion, b, upon shaft 1), by which means the drum is revolved.

Bigidly connected to this drum, within,there is a series of rings, 0, \I-shaped in cross-section, arranged across the drum, and a waterpipe, D, having flat sprays d, enters said drum, and it may be fastenedto the opening of hopper A. At the outside of the larger end of the drum there is an apron, E, having fingers 0, extending over an opening, 6, in said apron.

F is an endless belt, traveling over revolving blocks G G, and having platforms f, with knives f, the outer ones having a straight edge and somewhat wider than the inner ones, which have their edges curved. As the belt F travels these knives f pass between the fingers e.

Fastened to apron E, at and below opening 6, is a chute, H, which leads downward and inward to a receptacle, I. Suspended above,

and reaching within said receptacle I, is another endless belt, K, traveling over revolving blocks L L, and having buckets 7.".

Immediately under drum B is a shield, B, which slopesdownward into anarrowing chute, b, which extends over the edge of a sluice-box, M. Within thisbox thereis a revolving shaft, N, having a hub, O, fixed thereto. To this hub 0 there are fixed radial arms I, from which depend fingers 1), arranged obliquely to the axis of the arms. Hung loosely to the outer ends of said arms P there are buckets B, which bear close against the periphery of box M. At the side of box M, next to receptacle I, there is a bridge, S, having an incline, s, at each end, an incline, s, on the inside, and opening through aperture 8 and chute 8' into receptacle 1. During their revolutions the buckets It swing on their pivots and pass over bridge S. The bottom ofbox M is covered with blocks of wood m, in sections, leaving spaces m between. At the bottom of box M there are arranged concentric edges or riffles X, sufficiently low to be missed by fingersp in their movement.

Motion is communicated to the machine through pulley V upon shaft W. This shaft has a bevel-wheel, a, meshing with another, a, upon shaft N. This shaft W is fastened to blocks G and L. Block G is affixed to shaft Y, having at its outer end a gear-wheel, y, meshing with gear-wheel 11 upon shaft 1). By this arrangement power applied to pulley V will operate the whole machine. The output is thrown into hopper A, and passing into drum B is subjected to a washing from water thrown from sprays d. The stones and most of the dirt run down and fall upon apron E. The larger stones are taken up by knives f upon platformsf, and are carried away by belts F. The smaller stones and dirt fall through opening 0, run down into receptacle I, and are carried off by buckets upon belt K. The gold and whatever of dirt and stones is not carried to the apron falls through the V-shaped rings 0, through the perforated drum B, upon shield B, and is washed through chute b, and drops into box M at the center. The arrangement and shape of rings 0 materially assist the operation. Being crosswise they serve to detain the mass as it jams between them, so that it shall be fully subjected to the action of the water, and the precise shape of the rings facilitates the oozing of the fine dirt and gold down between the rings, the V shape iving the rings an outward flare. The fingers 1; upon arms or wings P churn the matter, and by the oblique position of said fingers p the dirt and stones are thrown to the outside, when buckets R seize them and carry them upon bridge S, whence they fall, through opening or aperture 8 and chute 8', into receptacle I. The gold drops to the bottom and falls into spaces m.

The riffles X form a breakwater, which prevents the water below fingers p from being dragged by that above, and thus, being practically still, allows the gold to fall and remain quiet.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. I11 a gold-washing machine, the perforated tapering revolving drum B, having the rings 0, V-shaped in cross-section and arranged across the drum, in combination with pipe D, apron E, and shield B.

2. Apron E, having opening 0 and fingers e,in combination with belt F, having platform f, with knivesf.

8. Apron E, having opening e and fingers e, in combination with chute H and receptacle I. v

4. Sluice-box M, in combination with shaft N, having hub O and radial arms P provided with fingersp, and buckets It, the latter loosely attached to the ends of said arms.

5. Bridge S, having inclines s and flanges, in combination with sluice-box M, having opening s.

6. Sluice-box M, having sectional blocks m, with spaces m, in combination with riffles X.

7. A gold-washing machine consisting of hopper A, drum B, having rings 0, V-shaped in cross-section, water-pipe D, having fiat sprays L, apron E, having opening a and fingers e, belt F, having platform f, with fingers f, chute H, receptacle I, belt K, having buckets 7c, shield B, chute b, sluice-box M, having bridge S, blocks m, spaces m, and riffles X, shaft N, having hub O, with arms P, having fingers p, and buckets R, all constructed as and for thepurpose stated.

In testimony that 1 claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

SIMON P. BRESSLER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. LEONARD, RANDOLPH K. FELLoWs. 

